IRELAND’S FALTERING SIX NATIONS prospects received a slight lift earlier today when the Neath Swansea Ospreys confirmed that Tommy Bowe will start in tomorrow evening’s Magners League fixture against Benetton Treviso.
The Irish winger has been out of action since mid-January after he developed a knee problem which saw him miss his side’s Heineken Cup clash against Toulon.
Following consultation with medical specialists, the 26-year-old Monaghan man was ruled out of the opening two games of Ireland’s Six Nations campaign, only returning to full training with his club earlier this week.
The news that Bowe will start tomorrow night’s game will provide a welcome boost to Declan Kidney’s men as they prepare for an important trip to Murrayfield next Sunday to face Scotland.
Irish team manager Paul McNaughton confirmed yesterday that the team’s other major injury worry, Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris, would not be available for next weekend’s match.
Mushy
Meanwhile, speaking at a press conference during the side’s training camp in Cork yesterday, Kidney promised that prop Tony Buckley’s decision to join the Sale Sharks at the end of this season would not adversely affect his World Cup chances.
Though Kidney’s comments suggested that he would have preferred if the 30-year-old had stayed with Munster, he promised to continue to select Buckley for the national side if he was the best man for the job.
All the bodies would have known that we would have liked him to stay. There are different factors, the player, the province and the union, and you’re hoping that they would be able to put a deal together to keep as many players home as possible.
Sometimes it’s just not possible to keep everyone at home. If that choice was for Tony, he has to make the decision that’s right for him and his family.
We’ll keep a good eye on him, and if he’s the best Irish qualified prop playing, then he’ll still play for Ireland.
Check out the rest of this weekend’s Magners League team news here | Buckley moves to Sale with one eye on the World Cup
